ALMOST 50 airline workers employed in safety sensitive roles by Qantas and Virgin have tested positive to drugs or alcohol in a year, documents obtained under Freedom of Information show.

Qantas tests reveal 20 airside workers tested positive to drugs and a further 16 to alcohol between March 2012 and February last year, showing up in thousands of urine and breath samples taken.

The employment of three of the workers caught by the tests was terminated and three resigned.

Eleven Virgin staff recorded positive tests - seven for alcohol and four for drugs - with nine losing their job and one resigning.

No positive results were recorded for Jetstar staff - the other major airline covered by the testing program.

Staff covered by the tests carried out across Australia include pilots, cabin crew, engineers, refuellers, pit crew and baggage handlers with access to aircraft.

The data, obtained by The Daily Telegraph under FOI laws, does not show whether any pilots have tested positive after turning up for a flight.

A spokesman for Virgin confirmed that none of the airline's pilots were found to have tested positive during the period of the tests but Qantas refused to comment on the results for individual employee groups.

Aviation sources have told the Telegraph they believe no more than "one or two pilots" across the entire industry in Australia test positive for drugs or alcohol in any year.

But they added that "anyone who works on the tarmac (at an airport) and has contact with aircraft has the potential to cause a safety risk".

A Qantas spokesman said: "Qantas and Jetstar have a zero blood alcohol level and a drug-free policy for all employees including contractors while at work or on duty.

"Positive tests by employees, from our head office staff to operational employees such as baggage handlers, are extremely rare across our 35,000 employees."

It is understood the positive drug tests include illicit substances such as cocaine and amphetamines and prescription drugs such as codeine.

Qantas employees who test positive for alcohol or drugs are required to undergo an assessment and treatment program and some face disciplinary measures including the sack.

Some of the positive tests were returned by people seeking work in safety sensitive jobs with the airlines and were not hired as a result. Staff were also tested after accidents and serious incidents. In some cases a positive reading was reversed on medical review.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) conducts its own random alcohol and drug tests recording seven positives for alcohol and two for drugs out of 11,252 samples during the 2012-13 year.

"The number of positive tests results for both CASA's random testing program and the testing conducted by aviation organisations is very low," Mr Gibson said.

"While this is encouraging CASA and the aviation industry will continue to strive in the interests of safety to make aviation alcohol and drug free."

The airlines are required to file reports on the outcome of their testing programs to CASA twice a year and the data is reviewed by the safety authority.

Last year a survey of more than 300 members of the Australian and International Pilots' Association pilots revealed a culture of heavy drinking

It found one in seven was at risk of significant life problems because of excessive alcohol consumption. Eight pilots scored above the cut-off for alcohol dependence, according to a World Health Organisation scale.

The report compiled by former Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia chief executive Dr Donna Bull found three-quarters of international pilots drank at hazardous levels.

Forty per cent admitted to imbibing six or more drinks in a single occasion at least once a month _ the accepted definition of binge drinking.

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